Journal article
A qualitative exploration of driving stress and driving discourtesy
Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol.118, pp.38-53
2018
PMID: 29860130
Abstract
Background: Driving courtesy, and conversely driving discourtesy, recently has been of great interest in the public domain. In addition, there has been increasing recognition of the negative impact of stress upon the individual's health and wellbeing, with a plethora of interventions aimed at minimising stress more generally. The research literature regarding driving dis/courtesy, in comparison, is scant, with a handful of studies examining the dis/courteous driving behaviour of road users, and the relationship between driving discourtesy and driving stress. Aim: To examine courteous and discourteous driving experiences, and to explore the impact of stress associated with such driving experiences. Method: Thirty-eight drivers (20 females) from the Sunshine Coast region volunteered to participate in one of four 1-1.5 h focus groups. Content analysis used the verbatim utterances captured via an Mp3 device. Results: Three themes pertaining to stressful and discourteous interactions were identified. Theme one pertained to the driving context: road infrastructure (eg, roundabouts, roadwork), vehicles (eg, features), location (eg, country vs city, unfamiliar areas), and temporal aspects (eg, holidays). Theme two pertained to other road users: their behaviour (eg, tailgating, merging), and unknown factors (eg, illicit and licit drug use). Theme three pertained to the self as road user: their own behaviours (eg, deliberate intimidation), and their emotions (eg, angry reaction to other drivers, being in control). Discussion and conclusions: Driving dis/courtesy and driving stress is a complex phenomenon, suggesting complex intervention efforts are required. Driving discourtesy was reported as being highly stressful, therefore intervention efforts which encourage driving courtesy and which foster emotional capacity to cope with stressful circumstances appear warranted.
Details
- Title
- A qualitative exploration of driving stress and driving discourtesy
- Authors
- Bridie Scott-Parker (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawChristian M Jones (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawKarina Rune (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawJoel Tucker (Author) - Royal Automotive Club of Queensland
- Publication details
- Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol.118, pp.38-53
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.aap.2018.03.009
- ISSN
- 0001-4575
- PMID
- 29860130
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; Cancer Research Cluster; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451480502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Ergonomics
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
- Transportation
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